Stand-up box with locking structure



July 28, 1970 R. E. DE PAUL ET STAND-UP BOX WITH LOCKING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1969 INVENTORS 8. W L E W m E mm E Q D E T. B v Em A D mm Hm mM C juiy 28, 1970 5, 5 L ET AL 3,521,811

STAND-UP BOX WITH LOCKING STRUCTURE Filed May 2, 19,69 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGG FIGB

INVENTORS.

RICHARD E. DE PAUL CHARLES ROBERT HELMS BYW QL ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 01 time STAND-UP BOX WITH LOCKING STRUCTURE Richard E. DePaul, Norristown, and Charles Robert Helms, Barto, Pa., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 2, 1969, Ser. No. 821,216 Int. Cl. B65d /22, 5/36 US. Cl. 229-34 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention herein is primarily directed to that form of a container or box lending itself to rapid set up, and shipped in folded condition, and to appear not unlike a conventional set up box when erected. The box according to the present invention is particularly adapted to be formed from a paperboard which is laminated With a decorative paper, and also adapted to be shipped in a fiat condition for set up at a point of purchase.

According to the present invention, the stand-up box is prevented from collapse by locking members disposed in the bottom panel to prevent the side wall flaps from sliding inward and then with the end panel to collapse with the side walls.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of this invention to provide a new and im proved arrangement for a collapsible box having structure for locking the box in erected position.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stand up box having its sides and ends infolded, said box being constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a unitary cut and scored paperboard blank for forming a paperboard box according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the blank seen in FIG. 2, but of the opposite side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a detailed isometric view showing the box according to said embodiment of the invention in the stand up condition thereof, and showing the locking structure for holding the end and side panels in erected position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a unitary cut and scored blank for forming a box according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 3 showing locking structure formed from the blank of FIG. 4 for maintaining the side and end panels in the box in erected position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a unitary cut and scored blank for forming a box according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view showing details of locking structure according to the embodiment of the invention seen in FIG. 6;

9 FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view similar to FIG. 7 showing the locking structure in position on the bottom panel; and

FIG. 9 is a detailed isometric view similar to FIGS.

3 and 5 showing the locking structure according to the embodiment of the invention seen in FIGS. 6 to 8 inelusive.

SPECIFICATION In describing the various embodiments of the invention the same reference numerals will be employed where parts are common to all forms.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a stand-up box referred to by the reference numeral 10 and constructed according to the present invention, and shown for shipping in a fiat condition. Box 10 consists of a bottom panel 13, opposed side walls 21 and opposed end walls 22. Irrespective of the mode of the construction of carton 10 according to the several embodiments of the invention, the knock-down appearance thereof will be identical.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a cut and scored blank 11 for constructing a carton according to a first embodiment of the invention. It consists of a bottom panel 13 having opposed side panels 14 foldably connected thereto along score lines 16. Opposed end panels 17 are foldably connected to the bottom panel 13 along spaced score lines 18.

The blank thus far described may be of a laminated type with a Wrap sheet WS laminated thereto. The latter may be folded and glued along outer edges 19 and 20 of side panel 14 and a corner connecting flap 23 hingedly connected to the side panel 14 along a score line 24.

Each end panel 17 is made up of an outer wall 64 and an inner wall 29. Inner wall 29 is further defined by panel 62 hingedly connected to panel 64 along score line 31 and attached to panel 63 along cut and nick line 30, inner Wall 29 being foldable with respect to outer wall 64 along score line 31. Inner wall 29 has a glue patch GP 1 on the inside of panel 62 and a glue patch GP 2, see FIG. 2A, on the outside of panel 63 so that upon folding of inner wall 29 along score line 31, panel 62 will be glued to outer end wall 64 and upon folding the outer end wall 64 along score line 18, panel 63 will be glued to bottom panel 13.

It should be borne in mind that the folding of panel 64 with respect to panel 13 along score line 18 takes place concomitantly with the folding of flaps 23 with respect to side panels 14 along score lines 24.

Each outer wall 64 is provided with side portions 26, these being hingedly connected to outer wall 64 along score lines 27. Each side portion 26 is provided with a glue patch GP 3 on the outside surface and upon the folding of panel 14 along score line 16, side portion 26 will be glued to flap 23 which has been folded along score line 24 to overlie a portion of panel 14.

At the conclusion of the folding and gluing steps described, panel 62 is glued to outer wall 64, panel 63 is glued to panel 13 and side portions 26 are glued to flaps 23. The carton is now in the form shown in FIG. 1 and the end panel 17 can now be referred to as end wall 22.

The parts described thus far remain as seen in FIG. 1 until the erection of the blank 10, which is achieved by lifting end wall 22 and rocking the same about score line 1-8 to the position seen in FIG. 3.

At this time the nicks in the cut and nicked line 30 separate to leave panel 63 in position as seen in FIG. 3. By reason of the dimensioning of the parts thus far described the panel 63 is spaced a small distance from outer wall 64 to define a slot S into which the corner connecting flap 23 (glued to side portion 26, now folded inward along score line 27) may extend.

This movement of the glued together corner connecting flap 23 and the follded inward portion 26 is one whereby the two elements slide across the panel 63 with the lower edges thereof resting in slot S.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown another Patented July 28, 1970 g embodiment where the cut and scored blank 35 for forming a standup box includes structure in the form of a flap 36 foldable with respect to the end panel 17 along a score line 37. Flap 36 is provided with wing elements 38 foldable as a unit along a score line 39 with respect to the flap 36 and defining with the flap 36 a pair of slots 41 along the sides of the wing elements 38.

In the forming of the structure according to this embodiment of the invention the flap 36 and the wing elements 38 thereof are folded as a unit along the score line 37 bringing the wing element 38 into contact with bottom panel 13. It should be noted that the Wing elements 38 have a glue patch as seen in FIG. 4 whereby the wing elements 38 are glued to the bottom panel 13.

As with the embodiment seen in FIG. 2, the side portion 26 is glued to the corner connecting flap 23 as seen in FIG. 5. The steps of folding end panel 17 about the score line 18 and panel 23 around score 24, the application of glue to portion 26, and the folding of panels 14 and 23 around score line 16 take place in the same sequence described above for FIGS. 2 and 3.

Upon erection of the carton to the position as seen in FIG. 5, the corner connecting flap 23 and the now folded inward portion 26 (now glued together) slide across the Wing element 38 to rest in the slot 41 now lying between the wing element 38 and the now upright flap 36.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, there is shown a still further embodiment having the same appearance when the structure thereof is completed as seen in FIG. 1, and formed from a cut and scored blank 45 seen in FIG. 6.

When the box is erected to the position seen in FIG. 9, a slot 56 is provided by the spacing of the locking tab 48 on the panel 13. Slot 56 provides space for movement thereinto of portion 26 of the end wall 17. Such movement occurs as the corner connecting flap 23 and the folded inward portion 26 slide across the locking element 48 to the position seen in FIG. 9.

Spacing tab 60 at this time overlies locking element 48, the cut lines 53 of portion 26 flanking the tab to assist in preventing displacement of side wall 14.

In this embodiment the end panel 17 is provided with a reinforcing flap 46 foldalble with respect thereto along a score line 47. Flap 46 has a glue patch on the side thereof exposed to the viewer as seen in FIG. 7, and is folded along score line 47 as seen in FIG. 9 to reinforce the top edge of the end panel 17.

. As with the previous embodiments locking structure is provided to prevent the collapse of the side panels 21 and the end panel 22. To this end the side portion 26 of panel 17 has a locking tab 48 extending therefrom by means of a detachable connection and separated from corner connecting flap 23 by a cut line 49. Locking tab 48 is generaly L-shaped in configuration and has a glue patch 52 thereon. Tab 48 is detachably connected to a spacing tab 60 defined by spaced cut lines 53 extending inward on portion 26 to a score line 54 extending between the spaced cut lines 53.

To locate locking tab 48 properly on panel 13, side portion 26 is folded around score line 27 until tab 48 comes into contact with panel 13. Locking tab 48 is held relative to panel 13 as side portion 26 is returned to original position, breaking the detachable connection with tab 48.

At this time, panells 17 and 23 fold around score lines 18 and 24, glue is applied to side portion 26 and panels 14 and 23 are folded around score line 16 gluing panel 23 to side portion 26,

We claim:

1. A stand-up box formed from a generally rectangular blank which is cut and scored to provide:

(a) a bottom panel, opposed side panels and opposed end panels;

(b) said side and end panels being foldable with respect to said bottom panel to upright position to define opposed side walls and opposed end Walls;

(c) each of said side panels having corner connecting flaps hinged to opposite ends thereof;

(d) said end panels having side portions foldable inwardly along diagonal score lines;

(e) each of said corner connecting flaps having a corner portion thereof adhesively secured to the outer face of a related side portion;

(f) retaining structure hingedly connected to said end panel and foldable with respect thereto and glued to said bottom panel in such spaced relationship to said end panel that upon erection of said end and side panels said corner connecting flaps of said side panels Will engage said retaining structure to lock said end and side panels in erected position.

2. A stand-up box according to claim 1, wherein said corner connecting flaps are held between said structure and said end panel.

3. A stand-up box according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a tab extension foldable with respect to said end panel, whereby when said extension is so folded and said end panel is folded against said bottom panel, said tab extension is glued on said bottom panel in a position to define a slot for entrance of said corner connecting flap and said side portion of said end panel.

4. A stand-up box according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a tab extension having wing elements thereof spaced from said end panel by the thickness of said corner connecting flap and said side portion of said end panel, whereby when said structure is folded and glued into position on said bottom panel said wing elements will define a slot for entrance of said corner connecting flap and said side portion of said end panel.

5. A stand-up box according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises locking members severable from said 4 end panel and glued to said bottom panel in a position References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 850, 345 4/ 1907' Conover. 2,637,483 5/ 1953 Shapiro. 2,544,565 3/1951 Phillips 229-33 FOREIGN PATENTS 944,543 12/ 1963 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner S. E. LIPMAN, Assistant Examiner 

